DeltaPlex Arena facts for kids
The DeltaPlex
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Full name | DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center |
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Former names |
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Address | 2500 Turner Avenue |
Location | Walker, Michigan |
Coordinates | 43°0′31″N 85°40′54″W / 43.00861°N 85.68167°W |
Owner | Visser Brothers, Inc. |
Capacity | Basketball: 5,000 Concerts: 7,000 |
Opened | 1998 |
Closed | July 31, 2022 |
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The DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center was a large building in Walker, Michigan. It was a place where many different events happened. People knew it as the DeltaPlex. It used to be called the Stadium Arena and Grand Rapids Stadium.
This arena was home to sports teams like the Grand Rapids Gold basketball team. They played in the NBA G League. The Grand Rapids Wanderers soccer team also played there. The DeltaPlex was built in 1952. It was updated and renamed in 1998. It hosted sports, concerts, and big shows. The building closed on July 31, 2022. It is now being changed into a warehouse.
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The DeltaPlex: A Look Back
The DeltaPlex Arena was a very important place for entertainment in the Grand Rapids area. It had a long history. Many people visited it over the years.
Early Days of the Stadium Arena
The building first opened in 1952. It was called the Stadium Arena back then. It had a special arched roof. This roof was held up by wooden supports. It was a unique design.
The arena hosted many different things. It was home to hockey teams like the Grand Rapids Rockets. Later, the Grand Rapids Owls played there. In the 1960s, it even became a department store. For a short time, it was a drive-in movie theater.
Becoming the DeltaPlex
For many years, the Stadium Arena was the main place for indoor fun. This changed when the Van Andel Arena opened in 1996. In the mid-1990s, a family bought the old Stadium Arena. They worked hard to fix it up. They made it new and modern.
After all the renovations, the building got a new name. It became the DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center in 1998. It was ready for new events.
Sports and Events at the DeltaPlex
The DeltaPlex hosted many exciting sports teams. The Grand Rapids Flight basketball team played there in 2008. In 2010, the West Michigan ThunderHawks played indoor football there.
One of its most famous teams was the Grand Rapids Gold. They were a basketball team linked to the Denver Nuggets. They played in the NBA G League. Many fans came to watch their games.
The DeltaPlex Closes Its Doors
On April 27, 2022, it was announced that the DeltaPlex would close. Its last day was July 31, 2022. The building was sold to a company called Visser Brothers Inc. They are changing it into a warehouse. This means the DeltaPlex is no longer an arena.